SAT scores for Pennsylvania's Class of 2010 averaged 501 on the reading test, 516 in math and 492 in writing. JOE HERMITT, The Patriot-News

Pennsylvania’s Class of 2010’s average scores on the SAT college entrance exam showed little change, while the racial gap widened between white and black students, according to figures released Monday by the College Board.

The average SAT score held steady at 501 in the critical reading section of the test. Math scores rose to 516 from 515, and writing fell from 493 to 492. Each section has a maximum score of 800.

Despite on-going efforts to close achievement gaps, Pennsylvania’s gap grew slightly wider with whites outscoring black students by 101 points in reading, 114 points in math and 102 points in writing. The gap from last year's graduating class was one point smaller in each of those subjects.

Bob Schaeffer, Public Education Director of FairTest, the National Center for Fair & Open Testing, noted that is how overall SAT averages are trending nationally with overall SAT averages declining and gaps between white students and black and Hispanic students widening since the federal No Child Left Behind Act took effect.

“Proponents of NCLB and similar state-level testing programs promised that overall achievement would improve while score gaps would narrow,” he said. “Precisely the opposite has taken place. Policymakers need to embrace very different policies if they are committed to real education reform.”

The number of test-takers nationally (1.59 million) was the most ever to take the exam which is said to be a predictor of college success, according to the College Board. In Pennsylvania, the number dropped by about 500 students, to 104,593 test-takers.

In the self-reported data provided by test-takers, it showed 47 percent said they were A students while 44 percent indicated a B average. The majority had reported taking at least 3.5 years of English, math, science and social studies.

"Engaging students with more rigorous course work and demanding higher standards are critical in providing America's students with an education that will prepare them to compete in the 21st-century economy," said College Board President Gaston Caperton. "This report confirms that there are no tricks and there are no shortcuts to college readiness. Students who take more rigorous courses in high school are more prepared to succeed in college and beyond."

The most popular majors that the state’s test-takers indicated an interest in pursuing were health professions (19 percent) followed by business fields and education (11 percent each). Penn State, Pitt and Temple were the most popular colleges that students showed an interest in attending.

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